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CVE Record

CVE-2022-50334: hugetlbfs: fix null-ptr-deref in hugetlbfs_parse_param()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: hugetlbfs: fix null-ptr-deref in hugetlbfs_parse_param() Syzkaller reports a null-ptr-deref bug as follows: ====================================================== KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000000-0x0000000000000007] RIP: 0010:hugetlbfs_parse_param+0x1dd/0x8e0 fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c:1380 [...] Call Trace: <TASK> vfs_parse_fs_param fs/fs_context.c:148 [inline] vfs_parse_fs_param+0x1f9/0x3c0 fs/fs_context.c:129 vfs_parse_fs_string+0xdb/0x170 fs/fs_context.c:191 generic_parse_monolithic+0x16f/0x1f0 fs/fs_context.c:231 do_new_mount fs/namespace.c:3036 [inline] path_mount+0x12de/0x1e20 fs/namespace.c:3370 do_mount fs/namespace.c:3383 [inline] __do_sys_mount fs/namespace.c:3591 [inline] __se_sys_mount fs/namespace.c:3568 [inline] __x64_sys_mount+0x27f/0x300 fs/namespace.c:3568 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x35/0xb0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd [...] </TASK> ====================================================== According to commit "vfs: parse: deal with zero length string value", kernel will set the param->string to null pointer in vfs_parse_fs_string() if fs string has zero length. Yet the problem is that, hugetlbfs_parse_param() will dereference the param->string, without checking whether it is a null pointer. To be more specific, if hugetlbfs_parse_param() parses an illegal mount parameter, such as "size=,", kernel will constructs struct fs_parameter with null pointer in vfs_parse_fs_string(), then passes this struct fs_parameter to hugetlbfs_parse_param(), which triggers the above null-ptr-deref bug. This patch solves it by adding sanity check on param->string in hugetlbfs_parse_param().

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can crash kernel code when hugetlbfs receives a malformed mount parameter with an empty value. The business impact is primarily availability risk on affected Linux hosts. The provided sources do not show data theft, remote exploitation, or confirmed active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a kernel availability fix, not an emergency remote compromise based on current evidence. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with higher priority for multi-tenant hosts or systems exposing mount operations to less-trusted workloads.

Technical view

hugetlbfs_parse_param() dereferenced param->string without checking for NULL. vfs_parse_fs_string() can set param->string to NULL for zero-length string values, so malformed mount input such as an empty size parameter triggered a NULL pointer dereference. The fix adds a sanity check before dereference.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with hugetlbfs mount parameter parsing reachable. The source bundle does not define required privileges, container impact, distribution package status, or exact enterprise product mappings.

Exploitation context

The report came from Syzkaller and shows a kernel crash path through mount handling. KEV is false, and the provided sources contain no evidence of exploitation in the wild or public weaponization.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports a NULL pointer dereference in hugetlbfs mount option parsing fixed by adding param->string validation. Missing evidence includes CVSS, CWE, privilege requirements, exploitability beyond denial of service, and distribution-specific fixed package versions.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Linux kernel updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Track distribution advisories for packaged kernel backports.
  • Prioritize internet-facing platforms only if local mount access is exposed through services.
  • Restrict unnecessary ability to perform hugetlbfs mounts where operationally feasible.
  • Confirm maintenance windows for hosts requiring kernel reboot.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions across servers and container hosts.
  • Check whether kernels include one of the referenced stable commits or vendor backports.
  • Identify workloads or users that can supply hugetlbfs mount parameters.
  • Review crash logs for hugetlbfs_parse_param NULL dereference signatures.
  • Verify post-update kernel version and reboot state.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
7Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux32021982a324dce93b4ae00c06213bf45fb319c8, 32021982a324dce93b4ae00c06213bf45fb319c8, 32021982a324dce93b4ae00c06213bf45fb319c8, 32021982a324dce93b4ae00c06213bf45fb319c8, 32021982a324dce93b4ae00c06213bf45fb319c8, 32021982a324dce93b4ae00c06213bf45fb319c8unaffected
LinuxLinux5.1, 0, 5.4.229, 5.10.163, 5.15.86, 6.0.16, 6.1.2, 6.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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